Choosing an early childhood education centre for your child A guide for parents, whanau and caregivers Ngā Karekare Oranga
Contents The early childhood education centre...2 Observe the staff...3 Observe the children...3 Indoor spaces...4 The bathroom...4 Outdoor spaces...5 Questions to ask the Director/Supervisor...5 This resource has been produced by Te Tari Puna Ora o Aotearoa/NZ Childcare Association to assist parents and whanau planning to enrol their child in an early childhood education centre. 1
The early childhood education centre Children respond to their total environment. They are particularly influenced by the people around them, both adults and other children. This means thatthe selection of the early childhood education and care centre where yourchild is enrolled is of great importance. Caring and established relationships between parents, child and the centre are important because children spend a good part of the day in this environment. You can obtain information about existing centres from the Education Review Office (ERO). Centres must comply with the Early Childhood Regulations (2008), be licensed by the Ministry of Education, and be reviewed by the ERO) You can find reviews of early childhood education centres/services on www.ero.govt.nz or request the report directly from your local ERO office. You need to feel confident about and be happy with your decision for your child, so begin your search early. It may be that the centre you choose does not have spaces available immediately. Allow time to investigate and evaluate the services available. Find out the facilities available in your area, and then you should make an appointment to visit each centre in order to assess its suitability for your child. A preliminary phone call may give you some of the basic information you will require. Initial questions could include: What is the adult:child ratio? What are the age ranges of the children at the centre? Is there after school care? What hours is the centre open? Is there a vacancy for your child? Is there a waiting list? When are you able to visit the centre and meet the director and staff? What are the weekly fees? High quality early childhood education services should provide opportunities for warm, caring relationships; many interactions between children and adults; interesting resources and activities; and routines that encourage and support your child s participation. Arrange a time to see the centre in operation, and to meet the Director / Supervisor and staff. Ensure that when you visit the centre you take your child with you in order to gauge whether they feel comfortable in the centre environment. 2
Observe The Staff Do staff members interact well with all of the children? Are children guided and supported in their participation in activities, routines and events? Are children spoken to in a respectful and sensitive manner? Are the staff sensitive to varying cultural needs? Do the staff welcome parents into the centre, and encourage them to share their knowledge of the children? Do the staff model good hygiene practices? Are the staff talking and responding to children at an appropriate level? Observe The Children Are the activities and resources interesting and inviting for children? Do the resources and activities encourage or extend children s interests? Do the children enjoy each other s company? Are they encouraged to use their own ideas, solve their own problems? Are children participating in activities, routines and relationships? Do children have the time and space to play together? Are they really interested in books or really enjoying the music session, listening or joining in songs and finger plays? Is there social learning going on, children playing imaginatively together? Are they playing strenuously outdoors or, if it is a rainy day, has provision for this kind of play been made indoors? Is the overall atmosphere conducive to free activity, joy, development, creativity, etc? If the centre has mixed aged groups, are there safe places for under twos to work and places that older children can work unhindered? 3
Indoor Spaces Are the different cultures of the children reflected in the centre environment? Are the rooms pleasant and interesting? Are pictures and information on the walls at the children s eyelevel? Are there resources and activities suitable for your child s age? Are the resources and activities freely accessible to the children? Is there a whanau/family play area with furniture, utensils, accessories and space for the children to role play? Is there a varied collection of creative material such as arts and crafts, paint and dough? Block play: Is there a generous supply of blocks displayed in different sizes with plenty of space for several children to build. Is there a range of interesting accessories like trucks, trains, animals and people to go with the blocks? Science: Is there a table or shelf on which objects of interest may be displayed, such as a pinecones, a variety of seeds, shells etc? Are there small animals to be looked after by the children? Music: Are there instruments available for individual children s exploration of sound as well as the group experience of rhythm, movement and music? Books: Are there books available at all times, with facilities for comfortable browsing? Are there good quantities of books in good condition? Are there books about familiar objects and situations to consolidate the child s knowledge and extend experiences? Is the atmosphere stimulating piano, cd player, mobiles, bulletin boards, displays of children s own work? Are there mirrors on the wall at the children s level so they can explore themselves? Are there spaces for children to play quietly and/or have privacy? The Bathroom Are there toilets and basins easily accessible to all children? Are there facilities for bathing a child who falls in the mud or soils her/ himself? Are the staff available to help the children? 4
Outdoor Spaces Is outside an interesting place to be? Is the playground safe and adequately fenced? Does it provide opportunities for climbing, running, lifting, digging? Is it an organised playground or can the children move equipment around to make imaginary caves, houses or constructions? Is there provision for sand play and water play? Is there an open space for children to play and run, such as a grassed outdoor area? Is there any outdoor play equipment available, for example free form swings and slides? Are the children allowed to go outside to play whenever they wish or is there set outdoor play time? Do staff members take part in the activities outside with the children? Questions To Ask The Director/Supervisor Is the centre a member of Te Tari Puna Ora o Aotearoa /NZ Childcare Association? The Association promotes a high standard of early childhood education for children in childcare services. Parents can also become individual members of the Association. How many children are enrolled and what is the teacher:child ratio? Judge the number of children enrolled in relation to both indoor and outdoor space. How do teachers manage conflict between children? How do they guide the children s behaviour? Will any staff member have primary responsibility for my child? What are the qualifications and experience of the staff? Are staff registered teachers? Qualified & registered staff should hold the Diploma of Teaching (ECE) or higher. Our Association recommends that more than the regulation number of staff members should be qualified & registered teachers and that all staff members should be encouraged to further their knowledge through professional development. All staff working with children will have been police vetted. How is the centre operated and organised? Are parents included in the 5
governance of the centre? Some centres are run by a board of directors, by private owners, or by a committee of parents. What is the daily schedule? Is it flexible or rigid? For example, are the children able to rest when they are tired or during set times? Is the timetable able to be altered to allow more time for interesting happenings? The flexibility of the schedule is often related to the number of staff available. What happens if a child becomes ill during the day? Are there facilities for the isolation of a sick child? The Early Childhood Regulations (2008) require the exclusion of any child suffering from any infectious or communicable illness and any child taken ill must therefore be removed from the centre as soon as possible. What medical or first aid training do staff members have? Staff should have current first aid certificates. What are the arrangements in case of an accident or medical emergency? What are the rest and sleep provisions? Does each child have a bed or bedding? What are the arrangements for children who wake early or do not need a sleep? What types of meals and snacks are provided? You will need this information in order to plan a balanced diet for your child each day. What is the fee structure? Parents may be eligible for a Childcare Subsidy from the Department of Work and Income, contact your nearest WINZ office for further information. Is there a fee if a child is absent due to parents holidays or a child s illness? How are children introduced to the centre? Can you stay with your child for a while? The child s emotional health is often better safeguarded if the child can make a gradual transition from home care to group care and is not left in the centre for a full day until he/she has become accustomed to the adults who will be caring for him/her and to the new surroundings. What information can the centre provide that will help with the enrolment decision? Remember, this process should be exciting and stress free for you and your child. For further information, contact members@nzca.ac.nz. 6
Te Tari Puna Ora o Aotearoa/NZ Childcare Association Te Tari Puna Ora o Aotearoa / NZ Childcare Association has been supporting Early Childhood Education services achieve quality outcomes since 1963. We help early childhood education and care services and teachers navigate changes in ECE through the following: Advocacy for early childhood education and care in key policy forums Initial teacher education programmes Employer support and advice for members Annual conference Professional development programmes Advice and guidance programme for provisionally registered teachers Publications and resources for early childhood services If you are interested in becoming a member of our Association, undertaking a Bachelor of Teaching (ECE), or attending our conference, please contact us. www.nzca.ac.nz 0800 CHILDCARE (244 532) info@nzca.ac.nz Find us on Facebook and Twitter facebook.com/nzchildcareassocation @NZChildcare 7